Astrue's Political Contributions

Below is a list provided by Newsmeat of the political contributions of Michael Astrue, President Bush's nominee to become the next Social Security Commissioner. This list may not be complete and it certainly looks like it is not up to date. However, if it is anything like accurate, Mr. Astrue has not been an easy touch for campaign funds.

Astrue, Michael Belmont, MA 02178 Transkaryotic Therapies/Executive	VOLUNTEER PAC	$5,000 primary	06/30/03
ASTRUE, MICHAEL J BELMONT, MA 02178	HATCH, ORRIN G (R) Senate - UT HATCH ELECTION COMMITTEE INC	$500 primary	11/04/02
ASTRUE, MICHAEL BELMONT, MA 02178 TKT INC	COLLINS, SUSAN M (R) Senate - ME COLLINS FOR SENATOR	$1,000 primary	01/14/02
Astrue, Michael Belmont, MA 02178 Trans. Therapies &Boston Univ./Sr.	PORTMAN, ROBERT J (R) House (OH 02) PORTMAN FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE	$1,000 primary	07/12/01
ASTRUE, MICHAEL J BELMONT, MA 02178 BIOGEN	FRIST, WILLIAM H (R) Senate - FRIST 2000 INC	$1,000 primary	02/22/00
ASTRUE, MICHAEL J BELMONT, MA 02178 BIOGEN	FRIST, WILLIAM H (R) Senate - FRIST 2000 INC	$-500 primary	02/22/00
ASTRUE, MICHAEL J BELMONT, MA 02178 BIOGEN	FRIST, WILLIAM H (R) Senate - FRIST 2000 INC	$500 general	02/22/00
ASTRUE, MICHAEL J BELMONT, MA 02178 BIOGEN INC	AMORELLO, MATTHEW J (R) House (MA 03) AMORELLO FOR CONGRESS	$200 general	09/29/98
ASTRUE, MICHAEL BELMONT, MA 02178 BIOGEN	FRIST, WILLIAM H (R) Senate - FRIST 2000 INC	$500 primary	04/10/97
ASTRUE, MICHAEL J BELMONT, MA 02178 BIOGEN INC	WELD, WILLIAM F (R) Senate - MA WELD FOR SENATE INC	$1,000 general	09/27/96
ASTRUE, MICHAEL BELMONT, MA 02178 BIOGEN	BLUTE, PETER I (R) House (MA 03) PETER BLUTE FOR CONGRESS	$250 primary	06/27/96
ASTRUE, MICHAEL BELMONT, MA 02178 BIOGEN INC	TEAGUE, EDWARD B (R) House (MA 10) TEAGUE FOR CONGRESS	$250 primary	04/24/96
ASTRUE, MICHAEL J BELMONT, MA 02178 BROGEN INC	DOLE, ROBERT J (R) President DOLE FOR PRESIDENT INC	$50 primary	11/02/95
ASTRUE, MICHAEL J BELMONT, MA 02178 BROGEN INC	DOLE, ROBERT J (R) President DOLE FOR PRESIDENT INC	$1,000 primary	09/28/95
ASTRUE, MICHAEL J BELMONT, MA 02178 BIO-GEN INC	MCINTOSH, DAVID MARTIN (R) House (IN 02) DAVID MCINTOSH FOR CONGRESS	$250 primary	01/31/94
ASTRUE, MICHAEL BELMONT, MA 02178	LARKIN, PATRICK JOSEPH (R) House (MA 01) LARKIN FOR CONGRESS	$300 primary	08/11/92

Social Security Touts Online Services

From a Social Security news release picked up by The Weekly, of Georgia:

ATLANTA, GA (September 13, 2006) - Social Security’s Internet site, www.socialsecurity.gov , is among the most popular of government websites. In fact, in a survey conducted by the American Customer Satisfaction Index, four of the top five services evaluated are located on Social Security’s website. Our Social Security Benefits Application was number one, followed by the Application for Extra Help Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs page and the Social Security Business Services Online page. In fifth place was the Social Security Retirement Planner.

It is perhaps a minor matter, but this is an example of a Social Security press release that Social Security chooses not to post on its own website that is supposed to show its press releases. There have been a number of these lately. If the best that Social Security's press office can do is to get a press release like this published in a tiny local news media, it is hardly worth the effort of even doing the press release in the first place. One would think that Social Security would at least post these press releases online so that those few who are genuinely interested in what the agency is doing would be able to find them more easily.

Mark Warshawsky

Mark Warshawsky, one of President Bush's other appointees to the Social Security Advisory Board, has worked at the Department of the Treasury. He campaigned publically for President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security, as this press release from 2005 shows.

Sylvester Schieber

Sylvester Schieber, who has just been appointed by President Bush as Chairman of the Social Security Advisory Board, is the co-author of The Real Deal: The History and Future of Social Security. Here is his publisher's blurb on the book:

Will the Social Security system founder as millions of baby boomers enter their retirement years? Is the frightening vision of an impoverished old age a glimpse into the real future for Americans of the next generation? The authors of this book put debates about Social Security reform into historical perspective, consider various reform ideas, and elaborate a proposal to ensure that the system can continue to meet the claims of the retired and disabled. Sylvester J. Schieber and John B. Shoven, leading experts on retirement issues, set forth a carefully considered plan to change the way we finance Social Security and thereby secure its future viability. Exploring the history of the Social Security system from its origins during the Depression to its current troubled prospects, Schieber and Shoven analyze the program's economic structure and introduce the remarkable personalities who influenced its evolution. The authors show how Social Security today differs from the program Franklin D. Roosevelt envisioned an how the shift to pay-as-you-go funding has led to the systems current problems. Seen in historical context, some reform approaches are revealed as a renewal of attempts to fund Social Security through means that have repeatedly failed. The authors a true mandatory private retirement savings account. For workers -- a proposal that would lighten retirement-security burdens for future generations, avoid tax increases, and preserve the system's progressivity. This book is essential reading not only for policymakers but for anyone else who wishes to understand what Social Security reform will mean for us as a nation and as individuals.

SSAB Appointments

From the White House:

The President intends to designate Sylvester J. Schieber, of Maryland, to be Chairman of the Social Security Advisory Board for the remainder of a four year term expiring 01/21/09.

The President intends to nominate the following individuals to be Members of the Social Security Advisory Board:

Mark J. Warshawsky, of Maryland, for the remainder of a six year term expiring September 30, 2012.

Dana K. Bilyeu, of Nevada, for the remainder of a six year term expiring September 30, 2010.

Comptroller General Praises SSA Response To Hurricane Katrina

David Walker, the Comptroller General, has commended Social Security for its effective response to Hurricane Katrina. Walker indicates that while many other agencies failed, SSA excelled.

Astrue Associated With Washington Legal Foundation

Michael Astrue, President Bush's nominee for Commissioner of Social Security, has a significant affiliation with the Washington Legal Foundation. He is listed on the list of speakers that they make available. Washington Legal Foundation is a right wing organization that provides pro bono legal representation. With Astrue being affiliated with the Federalist Society and the Washington Legal Foundation, there can be no doubt that he can be accurately described as a "movement conservative." Although I can find no record of Astrue every saying this, it would be surprising if Astrue did not share the "movement conservative" view that Social Security is evil and should be abolished.

A Little Personal Information on Michael Astrue

Michael Astrue, President Bush's nominee to become the next Commissioner of Social Security, must have filled out some form sent to him a few years ago by the American Bar Association Career Counsel Program. The ABA has posted this information online. Here is what Astrue had to say:

Why?

Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
Knowing if you do well, you can help bring breakthrough drugs to desperate patients. Challenges: High risk, stress and uncertainty; excessive litigiousness in industry.

Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
Integration of science, law and business considerations; strong stomach.

Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area:
Generally, it is best to start with a law firm and then move to a medium sized or bigger company if you want to work in biotech. Most importantly, though, forget about long-term plans and just try to do something immediately worthwhile.

How?

Career Path to Current Position:
Mostly government service (many years at HHS, including 3 ½ as General Counsel) then General Counsel at Biogen.

Influences and Mentors:
Mentors: C. Boyden Gray, Kenneth Novack; Influences: James Q. Wilson, Ronald Reagan, Laura Mali-Astrue [apparently his wife, a French teacher].

Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area:
Hutt & Merrill: Food and Drug Law.

Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s):
Just sitting around at home and the phone rang.

Bar Affiliations and Activities:

Council Member: American Bar Association Section of Administrative Law; Vice Chairman: Federalist Society Section of Administrative Law.

Memorable Career Moment:

First day working in The White House, 1988.

Intriguing Interests:

Cuttyhunk Island; New Formalist poetry; the music of Richard Thompson.